Wire stamping machine



Aug, L E195U mmgs 2,517,493

WIRE STAMPING MACHINE Filed July 10, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m 1 M w L. A. KINGSLEY WIRE STAMPING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 10, 1944 Patented Aug. 1, 1950 omTEosrAT s PATENT OFFICE WIRE STAMPINGMACHINE Lewis A. Kingsley, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 10, 1944, Serial No. 544,245

' 7 Claims.

My invention relates to wire stamping ma- Second, to provide a wire stamping machine which prints on the insulation covering the wire at spaced intervals, and may be employed to mark reels of wire before use, or to mark special cut sections such as those going into special multiple conductor cables.

Third, to provide a wire stamping machine which is readily and quickly adjusted to wires of different diameters.

Fourth, to provide a stamping machine for insulated wire, which in no way injures the insulation or reduces its insulation qualities.

Further objects of the invention will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in thenovel parts and combination of parts to be. described hereinafter, all of which contribute to produce an efficient wire stamping machine. a a

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the following specification, While the broad scope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of myiwire stamping machine. a

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view thereof taken through 3-3 of Fig. l. l Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view taken from the direction indicated by 4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken through 55 of Fig. 1, showing the clutch and feeding mechanism for advancing the wire in steps.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view through 6-6 of Figs. 1, 4., and 5, showing the ratchet mechanism. l

The wire stamping machine is mounted on a rectangular main-base A platform 2 is secured to the base I. An upwardly extending forwardly curved neck 3 is secured to the rear side of the platform 2 and terminates over the forward portion thereof. .The forward extremity. of the neck 3 forms a guide head 4 for a plunger 5. The lower end of the plunger 5 is provided with a transverse slot in which is adapted to be H 2 secured a stamping die 6 bearing whatever indicia is desired on the wire to be marked. The lower end or head of the plunger 5 is equipped with a heater 1 in the form of an electrical heating ele: ment. Mounted below the plunger 5 on the platform 2 is an anvil structure 8 which may comprise a base portion or holder and a removable anvil bar. The anvil structure 8 is provided with Wire guide loops 9 which clear the extremities of the stamping die 6 and through which is adapted to-be threaded the wire W to bestamped. Additional guide tubes l0 and H mounted on adjustable brackets register with the Wire guide loops 9. Supported from the upright portion of the neck 3 is a foil reel H which carries a spool of foil ribbon [3. The foil is adapted to be fed under a guide l4, across the anvil structure and between foil withdrawing rollers l5 mounted on a bracket l6 carried by the plunger 5 and extending forwardly thereof. One end of the shaft which carries one of the rollers I5, is provided with a ratchet l1 adapted to be engaged by a pawl l8 fixed to theguide head 4, the arrangement being such that for each reciprocation of the plunger, the foil is drawn forwardly an amount necessary to bring a new section inregistry with the stamping-die. .A goose-neck frame 2| is secured to the main base land curves upwardly and forwardly over the neck 3. The goose-neck frame may comprise twosimilar members joined together by bolts. A rocker arm 22 is oscillatably supported on a fulcrum pin 23 located at the upper end of the goose-neck frame 2|. The forward end of the rocker arm bears against the upper end of the plunger 5. A roller may be interposed. The other or rear end of the rocker arm 22 is engaged by a push rod- 24 which telescopes into a "push rod 25. The push rod 25 is provided with a flange 26 upon which is supported a loading spring 21. The upper end of the loading spring bears against an adjustable tension collar 28 screwthreaded on the push rod 24. The push rods are restrained against rotation by a guide bar 29. Springs 30 are connected between the rocker arm 22 and the goose-neckframe 2| and maintain the rear end of the rocker arm in contact with the push rod 24. A roller may be interposed. Thepush rod 25 is guided in a vertical guideway defined by the two members which comprise the goose-neck frame 2|. A cam 3! is rotatable within the goose-neck frame 2| and is adapted to bear against a, follower roller provided at. the lower end of the push rod 25. The cam 3| is mounted on a drive shaft 32 which is connected through a clutch 33 and a suitable throw-out member 34 to a reducer unit 35 and motor 36. The drive is such that the cam may be caused to make one complete revolution, whereupon the clutch disengages by operation of the throw-out member 34, or the throw-out member may be rendered inoperative, in which case the cycle of operations repeats or is continuous.

At theside'o'f the goose neck frame 2| opposite from the clutch 33, the shaft 32 is provided with a crank wheel 31 which is connected by an upwardly extending crank arm 38 to a push rod 39 slid-ably mounted in a guide 40' secured to the side of the goose-neck frame 2|. The upper end of the push rod 39 is joined tothe rear end of a walking beam 4|. The walking beam is provided with a longitudinal slot 42 which receives a fulcrum pin 43 carried by a variable fulcrum block 44 mounted on a guide bar 45 provided on the side of the goose-neck'frame 2|. The variable fulcrum block is adapted to be moved forwardly and rearwardly by a link member 45 connected to a bell crank 47 which in turn, is joined to a suitable operating cable connected with a foot pedal, not shown. The forward extremity of the walking beam at is provided with an extension pin 48.

A- pair of laterally extending bracket plates are secured to the forward extremity of the goose-neck frame 2|. The bracket plates 5| pivotally support a segmental or guadrant'gear 52 having a rightangularly extending lever arm 53. The segmental gear depends from its mounting, whereas the arm 53- extends substantially horizontally toward the supported ends of the bracket plates 5|. The extremity of the arm 53 isprovided with an opening to receive the extension pin 48 of the walking beam 4|. slots 49 are provided in the bracket plates to permit'vertical movement of the extension pin 48.

The segmental gear 52 engages a pinion gear 54 mounted on a sleeve 55 which is journaled on a shaft 56 supported by the bracket plates 5|. The sleeve 55 is provided with a flange 51 which carries a pawl 58 adapted to engage a ratchet wheel 59 secured to the shaft 56. The shaft 55 extends outboard of the bracket plates 5| and supports a feeder wheel 60; The feeder wheel is preferably formed of two plates 5| between which is clamped a rubber disc 52 of slightly less diameter, so that the peripheries of the plates 6| form flanges. The feeder wheel is positioned'in alignment with the wire guides 9, I0, and H. A pair of idler wheels 63 are located under the feeder wheel 60. The idler wheels are mounted on a common yoke 64 which is pivotally supported on an arm 65 extending laterally from a bracket 65 secured to the main frame A spring 6'! is positioned to urge the arm 65 upwardly. The idler wheels, by reasonof the yoke 64, are selfequalizing and press the wire W against orinto the feeder wheel 60.

Operation of the wire stamping machine is as follows: The stamping die 6 is provided with type designed to imprint the desired indicia on the wire. The face of the type is preferably curved in approximate conformity with the curvature of the wire. The stamping die presses the foil I3 against the insulation which covers the wire W, and by reason of the applied heat, an imprint of the foil is adhered securely to the insulation. With each upstroke of the plunger 2. new section of foil is brought into position. The ratchet Clearance 7 wheel 59 is so arranged that during the down movement of the plunger the wire is stationary, but during the upward movement thereof the feeder wheel 60 is rotated a predetermined amount so that the spacing between imprints may be uniform. The spacing between imprints is readily and quickly varied by adjustment of the variable fulcrum block 44. When it is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the imprints will be close to each other. When, however, the fulcrum block 44 is moved to the other extremity of the slot 42, the movement of the extension pin and consequently the oscillation of the quadrant gear 52 is increased correspondingly and a substantially greater spacing between imprints may be obtained. The pressure on the plunger is determined by the loading spring 21, the pressure of which is adjustable by the collar 28.

Many other embodiments of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. A wire marking machine, comprising: a base plate; dual internested goose-neckstructures extending upwardly and forwardly over said base, one behind the other; a plunger reciprocable in the forward structure; type carried by said plunger; an anvil below-said plunger; means carriedby said rearward structure for actuating said plunger; and meansalso carried by said'rearwardstructure for periodically advancing wire across said anvil for engagement by said type in time spaced relation with movement of said plunger; said wire advancing means including alever having an arm movable in proportion to movement of'said wire and said lever having a movabl fulcrum element whereby the length ofwire advanced is variable;

2. A wire marking machine, comprising: a base plate; dual internested goose-neck structures extending upwardly and forwardly over said'base; one behind the other; a plunger reciprocable in the forward structure; type carried by said plunger; an anvil below said plunger; a plunger reciprocating means carried by said rearward structure including a rocker arm and a push rod assembly having therein a yieldable element and an adjustment means therefor; whereby the pressure of said type on said wire may be predetermined; and means also carried by said rearward'structure' for periodically advancing wire across said anvil for engagement by said type in time spaced relation with movement of said plunger; said wire advancing means including a lever havingan arm movable in proportion to movement of said wire and said lever having a movable fulcrum element whereby the length of wire advanced is variable.

3. A wire marking machine, comprising: a base plate; dual internested goose-neck structures extending upwardly and forwardly over said base, one behind the other; a plunger reciprocable in the forward structure; an anvil belowsaid plunger; type and a heater therefor carried by said plunger for engagement with wire on said anvil; and a foil reel andfoil advancing means for periodically moving a ribbon of "foil across said wire under said plunger; means carried by said rearward structure for actuating said plunger; and means also carried by said rearward structurefor periodically advancing wire across said anvil for engagement by'said type in time spaced relation with movement of said plunger; said wire advancing means including a lever having an arm movable in proportion to movement of said'wire and said lever having a movable fulcrum element whereby the length of wire advanced is variable.

4. A wire marking machine, comprising: a base plate; dual internested goose-neck structures extending upwardly and forwardly over said base, one behind the other; a plunger reciprocable in the forward structure; an anvil below said plunger; a plunger reciprocating means carried by said rearward structure including a rocker arm and a push rod assembly having therein a yieldable element and an adjustment means therefor, whereby the pressure of said type on said wire may be predetermined; type and a heater therefor carried by said plunger for engagement with wire on said anvil; and a foil reel and foil advancing means for periodically moving a ribbon of foil across said wire under said plunger; means carried by said rearward structure for actuating said plunger; and means also carried by said rearward structure for periodically advancing wire across said anvil for engagement by said type in time spaced relation with movement of said plunger; said wire advancing means including a lever having an arm movable in proportion to movement of said wire and said lever having a movable fulcrum element whereby the length of wire advanced is variable.

5. In a wire marking machine, the combination of: an anvil having a wire guide means; heated type means for applying indicia on wirte held in said anvil; means for advancing said wire across said anvil between impressions of said type means; said wire advancing means including a drive wheel engaging the wire, ratchet and gear means actuating said wheel, a segmental gear element engaging said gear means, a lever member for oscillating said segmental gear and means for varying the efiective length of said lever thereby to vary the length of wire advanced by said wire advancing means.

6. In a wire marking machine, the combination of: an anvil having a wire guide means; heated type means for applying indicia on wire held in said anvil; means for advancing said wire across said anvil between impressions of said type means; said wire advancing means including an oscillating lever, a variable fulcrum therefor, link and lever means to shift said fulcrum, a drive wheel for moving the wire, a drive connection between said lever and said drive wheel whereby the amount of advance of said wire is determined by the position of said variable fulcrum.

7. In a wire marking machine, the combination of: an anvil having a wire guide means; heated type means for applying indicia on wire held in said anvil; means for advancing said wire across said anvil between impressions of said type means; said wire advancing means including a drive wheel engaging the wire, ratchet and gear means actuating said wheel, a segmental gear element engaging said gear means, a lever member for oscillating said segmental gear; a variable fulcrum for said lever, link and lever means for shifting the position of said fulcrum thereb to vary the effective stroke of said lever and the resulting advance of said wire,

LEWIS A. KINGSLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATEN TS Number Name Date 1,254,704 Knight Jan. 29, 1918 1,381,153 Winter June 14, 1921 1,400,708 Winter Dec. 20, 1921 

